Understanding Language Delays and Disorders
Language delays and disorders affect how children understand and use words and sentences. These can impact both receptive language (what children understand) and expressive language (what children can say).
Signs of Receptive Language Problems
- Difficulty following simple directions or instructions
- Does not respond to their name consistently
- Difficulty understanding new vocabulary words
- Struggles in group settings or noisy environments
- Difficulty comprehending age-appropriate stories
- Does not appear to understand questions asked of them
Signs of Expressive Language Problems
- Limited vocabulary compared to peers
- Difficulty forming grammatically correct sentences
- Difficulty answering questions appropriately
- Using short, immature sentences
- Difficulty organizing thoughts into words
- Struggles telling a story in a logical sequence
- Limited use of descriptive words or phrases
- Difficulty with verb tenses or plurals
- Word-finding difficulties
Specific Language Impairment (SLI)
Specific Language Impairment is a language disorder in children with typical hearing and intelligence but who have unexplained difficulty with language development. Children with SLI may have difficulty with grammar, vocabulary development, sentence length and complexity, and narrative skills.
Treatment Focus
Language therapy focuses on expanding vocabulary, improving comprehension, developing grammatical structures, and enhancing narrative and conversation skills through play-based and functional activities.